Aerosol-generating device with flat inductor coil

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a housing defining a chamber having an open end configured for insertion of an aerosol-generating article into the chamber and a closed end disposed opposite the open end; a flat spiral inductor coil disposed at the closed end of the chamber; a susceptor element disposed within the chamber at the closed end; and a power supply and a controller connected to the flat spiral inductor coil and configured to provide an alternating electric current to the flat spiral inductor coil such that the flat spiral inductor coil is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field to inductively heat the susceptor element and thereby to heat at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article received within the chamber.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber having an open end configured for insertion of an aerosol-generating article into the chamber and a closed end disposed opposite the open end; 
 a flat spiral inductor coil disposed at the closed end of the chamber; 
 a susceptor element disposed within the chamber at the closed end; and 
 a power supply and a controller connected to the flat spiral inductor coil and configured to provide an alternating electric current to the flat spiral inductor coil such that the flat spiral inductor coil is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field to inductively heat the susceptor element and thereby to heat at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article received within the chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the housing defines a longitudinal axis extending between the closed end and the open end of the chamber, and 
 wherein the flat spiral inductor coil lies within a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       3. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the housing defines a chamber end wall forming the closed end of the chamber, and 
 wherein the flat spiral inductor coil is disposed on the chamber end wall. 
 
     
     
       4. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the chamber end wall comprises a first surface defining the closed end of the chamber and an opposed second surface, and 
 wherein the flat spiral inductor coil is disposed on the first surface of the end wall within the chamber. 
 
     
     
       5. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the chamber end wall comprises a first surface defining the closed end of the chamber and an opposed second surface, and 
 wherein the flat spiral inductor coil is disposed on the opposed second surface of the end wall. 
 
     
     
       6. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the housing defines a cavity in which the power supply, the controller, and the flat spiral inductor coil are disposed, and 
 wherein the opposed second surface of the end wall defines a first end of the cavity. 
 
     
     
       7. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the susceptor element comprises a planar portion disposed within the chamber at the closed end, and 
 wherein the planar portion extends within a plane parallel with the flat spiral inductor coil. 
 
     
     
       8. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the susceptor element further comprises at least one airflow aperture extending through the planar portion between a first side of the planar portion and a second side of the planar portion. 
     
     
       9. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the planar portion comprises a central hub and a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the central hub. 
     
     
       10. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the susceptor element further comprises at least one elongate portion extending from the planar portion and into the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the susceptor element further comprises a sleeve portion extending from a periphery of the planar portion, and 
 wherein the sleeve portion is disposed around at least a portion of the chamber and is configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article within the sleeve portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the flat spiral inductor coil is a first flat spiral inductor coil and the aerosol-generating device further comprises a second flat spiral inductor coil, 
 wherein the first flat spiral inductor coil, the second flat spiral inductor coil, and the planar portion of the susceptor element are parallel with each other, and 
 wherein the planar portion is disposed between the first flat spiral inductor coil and the second flat spiral inductor coil. 
 
     
     
       13. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the planar portion is a first planar portion and the susceptor element further comprises a second planar portion separate from the first planar portion, 
 wherein the second planar portion extends within a plane parallel with the second flat spiral inductor coil, and 
 wherein the second flat spiral inductor coil is disposed between the first planar portion and the second planar portion. 
 
     
     
       14. The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising an additional inductor coil disposed around at least a portion of the chamber, 
 wherein the power supply and the controller are connected to the additional inductor coil and are configured to provide an alternating electric current to the additional inductor coil. 
 
     
     
       15. An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ; and 
 an aerosol-generating article having an aerosol-forming substrate and being configured for use with the aerosol-generating device.